2012 Ignite the Flame Contest

Sponsor: Central Ohio Fiction Writers
Fee: $25 for COFW members; $30 for non-members
Deadline: May 20, 2012
Eligibility: Unpublished authors
Entry: 15 pages of the hero/heroine* first meet scene (no synopsis), paper and electronic entries accepted (*hero/hero, heroine/heroine is also welcome).
Categories: Romantic Suspense, Historical Romance, Category-Length Contemporary, Young Adult, Single Title, Erotic Romance, Paranormal Romance.
Final Judges: Laura Bradford (Agent at Bradford Literary Agency), Deb Werksman (Editor at Sourcebooks), Rhonda Penders (Editor at Wild Rose Press), Andrea Somberg (Agent at Harvey Klinger, Inc.), Katherine Pelz (Editor at Berkley Publishing Group), Alicia Rasley (Editor at Red Sage), Lindsey Faber (Editor at Samhain Publishing).
FMI, www.COFW.org or email itfcontest@gmail.com.

Charter Oak in Excellence in Writing Award

Sponsor: Charter Oak Romance Writers, Connecticut
Fee: $20 CORW/CTRWA/CoLoNY; Others $25
Deadline: May 20, 2012
Eligibility: for unpublished and non-PAN eligible authors.
Entry: First 20 pages; may also include 3 pages synopsis not to be judged.
Judges: Three qualified judges per entry (trained and/or published authors).
Categories and Final Judges: Deborah Smith/Bell Bridge Books, Contemporay; Mandy Hubbard/D4EO Literary Agency, YA. Jita Fumich/Folio Literary Management, Paranormal; Ally Robertson/The Wild Rose Press, Historical; Jennifer Lawler/Adams Media Crimson Romance, Mainstream.
FMI, http://www.charteroakromancewriters.org/.

**2012 Molly and Unsinkable Heroine Contest

Sponsor: Heart of Denver Romance Writers
Fee: HODRW member $25, RWA member $30, others $40.
Deadline: Early bird deadline May 1, 2012; final deadline May 25, 2012
Eligibility: Participation is open to all unpublished authors of novel-length romance fiction and those who have not published within three years prior to contest deadline. Non-winning entries are eligible for reentry.
Entry: Electronic entries only; see website for instructions.
Categories: Young Adult, Contemporary, Single Title, Historical, Romantic Suspense, Paranormal/Time-Travel/Futuristic
Judges: First round judges are romance writers. Second round judges are published authors.
Final Judges: See website for final judge editors and agents.
Top Prize: The first place winner in each category will receive the Molly Award. All other finalists will receive suitable recognition. Results will be published in the RWR.
FMI: email Mollycoordinator@hodrw.com with questions or see the website at http://www.hodrw.com/contests.

2012 Emerald City Opener

Sponsor: Greater Seattle Romance Writers of America
Fee: $12 for members, $20 for nonmembers
Deadline: May 31, 2012
Eligibility: Unpublished writers.
Entry: Your novel’s opening hook – The Opener – is what attracts an editor or agent. Polish the first seven pages of your manuscript and enter the Emerald City Opener Contest, sponsored by the Greater Seattle Chapter of RWA. Electronic submittal.
Categories and Final Judges: Category (Series) Romance - Kelli Martin, Amazon/Montlake; Contemporary - Liz Pelletier, Entangled Publishing; Historical - Amanda Bergeron, Avon Books; Paranormal - Carrie Jackson, Ellora's Cave; Romantic Elements - Holly Root, Waxman Agency; Romantic Suspense - Alexandra Machinist, Janklow & Nesbit Associates; Young Adult - Nicole Resciniti, The Seymour Agency.
First Round Judges: PROs, Published Authors.
Top Prize: Finalists receive a private pitch with their editor or agent of choice if attending Emerald City Writer’s Conference on October 26–28. Top prize in each category is $25.
FMI, www.gsrwa.org.

June Contests

**The Catherine

Sponsor: Toronto Romance Writers
Fee: $25 TRW members, $30 non-TRW members
Deadline: June 1, 2012
Eligibility: Open to all unpublished writers and published members of RWA who are not eligible to join RWA-PAN.
Entry: First pages plus a synopsis, maximum 30 pages.
Categories/Final Judges: Contemporary Series - Wanda Ottewell, Harlequin; Contemporary Single Title - Leonore Waldrip, HQN; Historical - Katherine Pelz, Berkley; Romantic Suspense - Leis Pederson, Berkley; Paranormal, Fantasy, Futuristic - Esi Sogah, Avon; Strong Romantic Elements - Kathleen Gilligan, St. Martin's; Young Adult - Karen Chaplin, HarperCollins Children’s.
Top Prize: Winners of the Final Round are entered into the Gold Ticket Round, judged by Kristin Nelson of Nelson Literary Agency.
FMI, http://torontoromancewriters.com/contest/.

**Minuet of Love Romance Novella Contest

Sponsor: Music City Romance Writers
Fee: $15.00
Deadline: June 1, 2012
Eligibility: Open to both unpublished and published authors, but novella entered must be unpublished.
Entry: Romance novellas (15-40K) with HEA or HFN ending. All electronic. First 10 pages, 250 word query/synopsis OPTIONAL (unjudged) in .doc format; all heat levels accepted.
Categories: Contemporary, Historical, Paranormal.
Judges: Published/trained unpublished authors.
Final Judges: Contemporary, Deborah Nemeth (Carina Press); Historical, Linda Ingmanson (Samhain Publishing); Paranormal, Adrien Luc-Sanders (Entangled Publishing).
Top Prize: $25 in each category, certificate, announcement in RWR.
FMI, visit www.mcrw.com or email contest coordinators at novella@mcrw.com.

**The 20th Annual Lone Star Writing Competition

Sponsor: Northwest Houston RWA
Fee: $20 for members NWHRWA, $25 for non-members NWHRWA
Deadline: June 9, 2012
Eligibility: Unpublished may enter any category. Published may enter any category in which they're not published, or in which they've not been contracted for five years. Open to RWA and non-RWA members.
Entry: First 25 pages. Electronic entries only.
Categories: Contemporary series, Romantic Suspense, Single Title, Inspirational, Historical, FF&P, and Young Adult.
Judges: Two published, one non-published in first round. Lowest Score dropped. Final judges: An editor and an agent for each category, and an e-publishing editor. Visit our website to view our all-star lineup of final judges!
FMI, contact Ann James at doggiemommmy@embarqmail.com. For entry form and rules visit www.nwhrwa.com.

2012 Unpublished Maggie Award Contest

Sponsor: Georgia Romance Writers
Fee: GRW Members: $25/Non-members $30
Deadline: June 10, 2012
Entry: Electronic only. 35 pages maximum (novel opening and synopsis) of unpublished novel-length (40,000 + words) work.
Judges: First round, published authors only.
Final Judges: Editors
FMI, visit www.georgiaromancewriters,org/the-maggies.

*2012 Aspen Gold Readers Choice Contest

Sponsor: Heart of Denver Romance Writers
Fee: HODRW members $20, RWA members $25, others $30.
Deadline: June 15, 2012
Eligibility: Participation is open to all published authors of novel- or novella-length romance fiction with an original copyright or first printing date of January 2011 through December 2011.
Entry: 3 copies of book, with an additional 2 copies for finalists. E-pubbed books are eligible, but must submit 3 printed, bound copies.
Categories: Young Adult, Contemporary, Single Title, Historical, Romantic Suspense, Erotica, Paranormal/Time-Travel/Futuristic, and Novella.
Judges: First round judges are romance readers.
Final Judges: Booksellers and Librarians.
Top Prize: The first place winner in each category will receive the Aspen Gold Award. All other finalists will receive suitable recognition. Results will be published in the RWR.
FMI, email Kathy or Grace at AG@hodrw.com with questions or see the website at http://www.hodrw.com/contests.

*Heart of Excellence Readers’ Choice Award

Sponsor: Ancient City Romance Authors (ACRA)
Fee: $20.00 per entry. Make checks payable to ACRA.
Deadline: Entries must be postmarked by June 15, 2012
Eligibility: Open to RWA members with books having an original copyright date of 2011 or First US Printing date of 2011 from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2011.
Entry: Include 3 signed copies of each entry. (Book length, at least 50K. E-mail books are accepted in bound, hard copy.)
Categories: Contemporary Single Title Romance, Erotic Romance, Historical (includes Regency) Romance, Inspirational/Traditional Romance, Paranormal Romance (includes fantasy, time-travel, futuristic), Romantic Suspense, Short & Long Series Contemporary Romance, and Strong Romantic Elements.
Judges: Judges will be romance readers, including non-RWA members and RWA members.
Final Judges: Booksellers and former editors.
Top Prize: 1st Place winners in each category will receive a trophy, certificate, and a winner’s graphic for their website.
FMI, contact ACRARWA.com. E-mail reallychristy@gmail.com, VLWKing@aol.com, or DJWilson77@aol.com for additional questions not found on the website.

*2012 Golden Leaf Contest

Sponsor: New Jersey Romance Writers
Fee: $15–25.00
Deadline: June 20, 2012
Entry: Four new autographed books with a first copyright date or first North American printing date between July 2011 and June 2012. Open to RWA Region 1 and NJRW members published in novel-length romance.
Judges: Booksellers, librarians, readers groups, romance readers.
FMI, visit http://www.njromancewriters.org/ or email contest coordinators at GoldenLeaf@njromancewriters.org.

*The 2012 Published Beacon Contest

Sponsor: First Coast Romance Writers
Fee: $25.00
Deadline: Entries must be postmarked by June 30, 2011.
Entry: Books with a 2011 copyright date.
Judges: Readers.
FMI, www.firstcoastromancewriters.com or Beaconpub@firstcoastromancewriters.com.

**The Rebecca, for unpublished manuscripts

Sponsor: Land of Enchantment Romance Authors
Fee: $20 (LERA members) or $25 (non-members)
Deadline: June 30, 2012
Eligibility: Manuscripts not accepted for publication at the time of submission.
Entry: Opening five thousand (5,000) words of romance works, electronic or hard copy.
Categories and Final Judges: Contemporary Romance - Deb Nemeth, Carina Press; Young Adult Romance - Holly Blanck, St. Martin's; Category Romance - Allison Lyons, Harlequin; Historical Romance - Suzie Townsend, Nancy Coffee Literary; Paranormal/Science Fiction/Urban Fantasy - Adam Wilson, Pocket Books.
FMI, http://leranm.com/.

**Put Your Heart in a Book

Sponsor: New Jersey Romance Writers
Fee: $20 members - $35 non-members
Electronic deadline: Midnight, July 1, 2012
Eligibility: Unpublished or not published in last five years.
Entry: synopsis and first chapter/prologue (30 pages max).
Preliminary Judges: published authors.
Categories and Final Round Judges: Short Contemporary – Agent Michelle Grajkowski, Three Seas Literary Agency, Editor Patience Smith Bloom, Silhouette Special Edition, Multi-published Author Leanne Banks; Single-Title Contemporary – Agent Jessica Alvarez, Bookends, Editor LaToya Smith, Grand Central Publishing, Multi-published Author Susan Wiggs; Historical – Agent Courtney Miller-Callihan, Sanford J. Greenburger Agency, Editor Tessa Woodward, Avon Books, Multi-published Author Sabrina Jeffries; Paranormal – Agent Ethan Ellenberg, Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency, Editor Junessa Viloria, Ballantine/Ivy, Multi-published Author Heather Graham; Romantic Elements – Agent Maria Carvainis, Maria Carvainis Agency, Editor Aubrey Poole, Sourcebooks, Multi-published author Lisa Verge Higgins; Young Adult Romance – Agent Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary Agency, Editor Liz Pelletier, Entangled Publishing, Multi-published author May McGoldrick; Romantic Suspense – Agent Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, Editor Elizabeth Bass, Carina Press, Multi-published Author Mary Burton.
Prizes: 1st Place: $50.00 + plaque; 2nd Place: $35.00 + certificate; 3rd Place: $25.00 + certificate.
FMI, www.njromancewriters.org or e-mail PYHIAB@njromancewriters.org.

The 8th Annual Get Your Stiletto in the Door Contest

Sponsor: RWA Chick Lit Writers of the World
Fee: $15–25.00
Deadline: July 6, 2012
Eligibility: Unpublished authors.
Entry: first 5,000 words. Electronic entries only.
Categories: Mystery/Suspense, Paranormal, Single Title, Women’s Fiction, and Young Adult.
Judges: trained, published and unpublished.
Final Judges: agents, editors, e-publishers.
Top Prize: Winning entries in each category will receive a $50 Amazon gift card.
FMI, visit http://chicklitwriters.com/stilettocontest/.

Indiana Golden Opportunity Contest

Sponsor: Indiana Romance Writers of America
Fee: $25.00
Deadline: July 8, 2012
Eligibility: Open to unpublished authors—Golden Heart eligibility rules apply, with the exception of Erotic Romance.
Entry: Electronic entry only. Total of 55 pages including a mandatory synopsis.
Categories: Historical, Mainstream w/Strong Romantic Elements, Paranormal, Romantic Suspense, Single Title, Young Adult, and Erotic Romance.
Judges: First round provided by trained judges and includes a comprehensive score sheet, comments, suggestions and encouragement.
Final Judges: Top three in each category will have their work read by an editor/agent serving as a final judge.
Top Prizes: 1st place in each category receives $50 and the Best of the Best winner receives $100.
FMI, www.indianarwa.com and click on the contest tab.

**2012 Hearts of the West Contest

Sponsor: Utah Chapter of RWA
Fee: $25.00
Deadline: July 15, 2012
Entry: First 20 pages of your manuscript, electronic submissions.
Judges: Preliminary judges are trained, published and unpublished.
Final Judges: editors and/or agents.
FMI, visit: www.utahrwa.com/howcontest.html or contact contest director Joy Spraycar at camrydog@q.com.

7th Annual Dixie Kane Memorial Contest

Sponsor: (SOLA) Southern Louisiana RWA
Fee: $15.00
Deadline: July 16, 2012
Eligibility: Entrants do not need to be members of RWA to enter.
Entry: First 5 double-spaced pages. Also, one-page, single-spaced synopsis (not judged). No electronic submissions. See website for more information. No staples please, paper clips only.
Categories and Final Readers: Short/Long Series Contemporary, Stacy Holmes, Senior Editor, Yellow Rose Line; Single Title Contemporary, Rhonda Penders, Editor-in-Chief, The Wild Rose Press; Historical Romance, Allison Byers, Editor, Historical Line; Paranormal, CallieLynn Wolfe, Senior Editor, Black Rose Line; Inspirational, Nicola Martinez, Editor in Chief, Pelican Book Group/White Rose Publishing; Novel w/ Strong Romantic Elements, Rhonda Penders, Editor-in-Chief, The Wild Rose Press; Romantic Suspense, Lori Graham, Senior Editor, Crimson Rose; Erotic Romance, Diana Carlile, Senior Editor, Scarlet Rose Line.
Judges: experienced, trained, published/nonpublished.
Final Readers: First place winners in each category receive a guaranteed read by an editor of The Wild Rose Press who will send you a request for a full or partial manuscript, or a rejection.
Top Prize: $50 cash with tiebreaker and special certificate for the overall highest score in all categories. Also, certificates and signature button for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place and honorable mention.
FMI, http://solawriters.org/ or email contest coordinator at ngenovese@gmail.com.

**Romance is Hotter in Las Vegas Writing Contest

Sponsor: Las Vegas Chapter
Fee: $10 LVRWA members; $15 RWA members; $20 non members
Deadline: July 31, 2012
Eligibility: Non-published short story
Entry: All electronic, 4,500 words maximum.
Categories: Romance or Romantic Elements.
Judges; Published/Unpublished.
Final Judge: Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary Agency.
Top Prize: $100.
FMI, visit www.LasVegasRWA.org or contact us at LasVegasRomanceWriters@hotmail.com.